Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Novel RNA Interference (RNAi)-Based
Nanomedicines for Treating Viral
Infections
Nyree Maes,* Skye Zeller,* and Priti Kumar
Department of Internal Medicine, Section for Infectious Diseases,
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
priti.kumar@yale.edu
The technology of RNA interference (RNAi) allows for the destruction
of any RNA in a highly specific manner. This unique feature has enabled
scientists to exploit the RNAi machinery for potential therapeutic
application in a variety of human diseases. Research aimed at
harnessing the endogenous RNAi machinery to treat viral infections
has particularly been an area of intense investigation as vaccines and
antiviral drugs are lacking for the most pathogenic viruses. A greater
understanding of and recent advances in RNAi design and delivery
have enabled the faster movement of these therapies from the bench
to the bedside. In this chapter, we focus on the use of RNAi as an
anti-viral therapeutic modality with special emphasis laid on studies
pertaining to preclinical and clinical testing.
* These authors contributed equally to the writing of this chapter.
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